Sahara Desert
Half
the large animal species once found in the Sahara have either
disappeared or are now confined to only 1 percent or less of their
original range. Regional instability and widespread hunting are only
partly to blame.
Although the biodiversity of deserts rivals that of
forests, researchers say that “the lack of scientific attention given to
desert biodiversity is mirrored by a lack of financial support.” As a
result, it is difficult for conservationists to monitor endangered
desert ecosystems.World
It
has been estimated that 1 in 8 deaths in 2012 occurred as a result of
air pollution. According to the World Health Organization, “air
pollution is now the world’s largest single environmental health risk.”
